Boonah

Cultural Centre: incorporates regional art gallery; open Mon–Fri, gallery open Wed–Sun; High St. Art and Soul: local art and photography; Walter St. Gliding and ultralight tours: flights over the Scenic Rim; details from visitor centre.

Main Range National Park A World Heritage–listed park of rugged mountains and landscapes with spectacular lookouts. There are walks starting at the Cunninghams Gap and Spicers Gap campsites. See the varied birdlife, including the satin bowerbird, on the 8.4 km return Box Forest track. Access park from Cunningham Hwy; (07) 4666 1133; 40 km W. In the south of the park is Queen Mary Falls; see Killarney.

Templin: has historical museum chronicling the history of the area; 5 km NW. Kalbar: historic German town with magnificent buildings including the heritage-listed Wiss Emporium; 10 km NW. Moogerah Peaks National Park: excellent for birdwatching, and with lookouts over the Fassifern Valley. The Frog Buttress at Mt French is one of the best rock-climbing sites in Queensland; contact EPA on 1300 130 372 for more information; 12 km W. Lakes Maroon and Moogerah: ideal for camping and watersports; 20 km S and SW.

Lake Wivenhoe 75 km

Impoundment fishing for native species in southern Queensland has enjoyed phenomenal growth and it all began at Lake Wivenhoe. Situated about 80 km west of Brisbane on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Wivenhoe has a surface... Find out more

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Clarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 79 km

Angling is a buzz when you are into a hot bite. It is also a buzz when discovering new territory or out hooking with other anglers, observing their methods and techniques on their home waters. So it was when I fished... Find out more

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Mooloolaba 152 km

It’s 6am on the Mooloolaba waterfront behind Kawana Waters Hotel. The temperature is mild enough to be wearing shorts and a shirt. All is quiet amid the moored boats except for the eager anglers sitting around the... Find out more

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Bjelke Petersen Dam 195 km

Lake Barambah is a 22 sq km water about 15 km south-east of Murgon. It is regarded as one of the state’s best waters for big bass, but also has yellowbelly, silver perch and saratoga. It is relatively shallow for a... Find out more

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Lake Boondooma 243 km

Situated on the Boyne River to the west of Bjelke Petersen Dam, this lake is about 15 km from Proston. Since its construction in 1983, a variety of species have been stocked here. Australian bass, silver perch and... Find out more

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Tamborine Mountain Distillery 50 km

There is a multitude of chemical-free schnapps, gins and vodkas to try here, many of which come from the fruits grown on the farm. Try lemon myrtle vodka, the multifaceted choc’n’chili liqueur, forest... Find out more

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Mount Coot-tha Forest 64 km

The largest natural area in Brisbane, this 1500 hectares of open eucalypt forest holds more than 18 kilometres of walking tracks, 12 kilometres of mountain-biking tracks and a further 31 kilometres of multi-use tracks.... Find out more

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Rock climbing around Brisbane 67 km

Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point is perhaps the friendliest city rock-climbing spot in the country, with views over the Brisbane River, a range of climbs for absolute beginners and upwards, and established anchor points... Find out more

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Cycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 67 km

Brisbane has a growing network of great cycling trails and some excellent rides for tourists – a five-to-20-kilometre ride along the shores of the Brisbane River comes highly recommended. There is also a great ride... Find out more

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Westlander 68 km

Take the overnight train ride from Brisbane to Charleville or Quilpie, travelling over the Great Dividing Range and through some of Queensland’s rich farming areas.... Find out more

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Diving and snorkelling around Byron Bay 116 km

Although there is not much in the way of shore dives or snorkelling around Byron Bay, the nearby Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is a top spot if you can get on a boat, with sea turtles, eagle rays, corals, grey nurse and... Find out more

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Cycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 138 km

Join a half-day or longer guided bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Queensland, particularly the popular Sunshine Coast ride or Maleny to Glass House Mountains. A back-up bus is included if it all gets too much.... Find out more

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Brookwater Golf & Country Club 43 km

Brookwater opened to considerable fanfare in 2002, with many observers quick to draw comparisons with Augusta National, venerable home of the US Masters. The varied terrain, inventive bunkering and undulating putting... Find out more

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The Grand Golf Club 62 km

Think of the Gold Coast and flashing images spring to mind: beaches, theme parks, high-rise apartments, hordes of tourists. The Gold Coast hinterland has none of these, and could be thousands of miles away. The... Find out more

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The Links, Hope Island 67 km

When Hope Island opened for play in 1993 it was a unique addition to Australia’s golfing landscape. Here was a links-style layout seemingly uprooted from Scotland and transplanted on to the sunny northern... Find out more

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The Glades Golf & Spa 68 km

Ask Greg Norman’s former chief designer Bob Harrison to name one course that makes him feel proud when he sees the final result, and chances are he’ll say The Glades. Upon joining the Gold Coast golfing... Find out more

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Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club (Pines course) 69 km

Sanctuary Cove’s Pines layout, designed by Arnold Palmer, has reigned for more than two decades as one of the Gold Coast’s best courses. At various stages during that time it has also ranked among the... Find out more

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Lakelands Golf Club 69 km

As a player, Jack Nicklaus was a regular visitor to Australia for more than two decades. He won six Australian Opens and inspired a generation of young Australians to take up golf. When his playing career began... Find out more

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Royal Queensland Golf Club 74 km

Of all the golf courses in this book, Royal Queensland has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Originally opened in 1920, on reclaimed mangrove swampland on the north bank of the Brisbane River, ... Find out more

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North Lakes Resort Golf Club 92 km

Good course designers have tricks up their sleeves when it comes to spurring golfers to rise to the challenge. They can visually intimidate you with large schemes of bunkers or water hazards encroaching on the best... Find out more

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Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 117 km

Challenging the best players without alienating casual and beginner golfers is the fine line every course designer treads in coming up with a new creation. One designer who does it better than most is Ross Watson. His... Find out more

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Pelican Waters Golf Club 135 km

It took 54 years for his dream to be realised, but when Pelican Waters Golf Club finally opened for play in 2000, not even the visionary behind the original idea could have imagined it would turn out as good as it... Find out more

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Mondo Organics, West End 65 km

Australia’s first organic restaurant when it opened in 2000, Mondo Organics serves a range of organic meats, including beef, chicken, duck and lamb, and the fish is chosen for the sustainability of the catch. The... Find out more

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Mt Tamborine Brewery 52 km

As we went to press, one of Queensland’s more ambitious craft-brewing operations was about to come to fruition at Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland. The 24-hectolitre microbrewery is the original plant... Find out more

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Foster's Group (Yatala Brewery) 61 km

This brewery site, located at Yatala, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, was established by the Power Brewing Company, which launched Powers Bitter in 1988. Four years later a joint venture between Powers and... Find out more

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Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 67 km

The pages of Australian brewing history are littered with take-overs and acquisitions, and while Castlemaine Perkins sounds like a merger, it was, in reality, yet another buy-out. As the name suggests, the Castlemaine... Find out more

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Burleigh Brewing Company 73 km

Queensland has generally suffered from a dearth of craft breweries so the Burleigh Brewing Company is a welcome and relatively recent addition. Co-owner/brewer Brennan Fielding boasts considerable experience as a... Find out more

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Stone and Wood Brewing 113 km

The popular coastal holiday destination of Byron Bay is the location for one of the country’s newest and most exciting craft breweries – Stone & Wood. The partners behind the venture include a trio of... Find out more

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Sunshine Coast Brewery 151 km

Queensland’s longest-running microbrewery has been operating from an industrial estate on the outskirts of Maroochydore since 1998. It was established by Jim Robinson and Queensland craft-beer pioneer Graham Howard... Find out more

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Boonah Showground

The showground is a top spot for powered sites just a 3 min walk from Boonah town centre. There’s a camp kitchen and laundry facilities, but BYO firewood. The campsite is on Melbourne St in Boonah, 50 km west of... Find out more

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Frog Buttress camping area 6 km

This small campground in Moogerah Peaks, not suitable for caravans, is located 11 km west of Boonah on Mt French Rd, signposted 1 km south of Boonah off the Boonah–Rathdowney Rd. There is a carpark 100 m from the... Find out more

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Yarramalong Camping and Outdoor Recreation Centre 11 km

There’s no shortage of space for comfortable camping at this 65 ha property, with 2 campgrounds: The Main and The Island. Both have private fireplaces (bring your own wood) and shady trees. There are 8 hot showers... Find out more

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The Gorge camping reserve 12 km

Camp by the water at this campground on Reynolds Creek, a fantastic swimming spot near Lake Moogerah. It is 3 km south of Aratula on Gorge Rd, off Charlwood Rd from the Cunningham Hwy. You need to bring your own... Find out more

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Lake Moogerah Caravan Park 14 km

On the shores of Lake Moogerah, this large caravan park is packed with top-grade facilities for a comfortable stay in the region. There’s a kiosk, 2 boat ramps, laundry, campfire pits, 2 amenities blocks, cabins... Find out more

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Pointro campsite 22 km

A minute walk from the water’s edge of Maroon Dam, Pointro is a mown site with plenty of clear spaces and a few gum trees if you prefer shade. The dam is popular for fishing and watersports. You’ll need to... Find out more

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Mount May Reserve 23 km

On the edge of Mt Barney National Park, this very basic campsite with no facilities is suitable for self-sufficient campers. Also popular with experienced bushwalkers, you’ll find it on Waterfall Creek Rd, 35 km... Find out more

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Bigriggen Park camping area 24 km

There’s plenty of room to sprawl on this 40 ha ground known for its peaceful surroundings and proximity to national parks. Wildlife is aplenty here: tree frogs, possums, wallabies and, if you’re lucky,... Find out more

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Flanagan Reserve camping area 25 km

To get to this reserve, follow the Mt Lindesay Hwy for 30 km to Rathdowney; after another half a kilometre heading south, turn right into the Boonah/Rathdowney Rd.  Follow this road for 7 km and then turn left into... Find out more

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Spicers Gap camping area 26 km

Spicers Gap is a small walk-in campground on the eastern side of the gap, with good walking trails nearby. A maximum of 50 campers are allowed, but there’s the freedom of setting up anywhere in the mown area. It... Find out more

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Lake Moogerah Caravan Park 14 km

In a picturesque setting on the shores of Lake Moogerah, nestled among the rugged peaks of the Scenic Rim, the park is 9 km south of Aratula along a sealed road. The lake is a popular destination for waterskiers.... Find out more

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Gateway Village Resort 62 km

This is a good quality park with easy access to all the major highways, including the Pacific Motorway, and is 16 km from the city centre. The good facilities include a resortstyle pool and tennis court. Bookings are... Find out more

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Brisbane Holiday Village 62 km

Easily accessed from the Pacific Highway (Mt Gravatt exit), this large, quality park is on the south side of the city. Facilities include minigolf, a tennis court, convenience store, cafe and lovely grassy sites. For the... Find out more

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Gold Coast Holiday Park and Motel 63 km

This is a larger park adjoining the M1, almost opposite Movieworld, and very close to Dreamworld. The park has undergone a lot of redevelopment in recent times and as the only quality dog-friendly park east of the... Find out more

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Rose City Caravan Park 66 km

Located on the northern outskirts of town, this is a smaller, good quality, dog-friendly park. It is ideally located for an overnight stay but would be very comfortable for a longer period.... Find out more

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Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park 70 km

The closest caravan park to Brisbane’s city centre, this older park has good basic facilities. With the city less than 4 km away, it is particularly popular with campers and backpackers.... Find out more

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Kahler’s Oasis Caravan Park 70 km

Located on the south side of town, this is a spacious park with good amenities best suited to the touring caravans and motorhomes passing through the area.... Find out more

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Treasure Island Holiday Park 70 km

This is a good quality park recently acquired by the NRMA. It has a licensed family bistro and a range of great facilities including a resort-style pool, spas, tennis courts and minigolf. The park is a short stroll from... Find out more

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Jacobs Well Tourist Park 72 km

This is a quality Gold Coast City Council park, located in a quiet township on the protected waterways north of the Gold Coast. It is a very popular park with families and those who fish. Bookings are required in peak... Find out more

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Broadwater Tourist Park 72 km

Position is everything, and this spacious council-owned park fronts the Gold Coast’s Broadwater. It has very good facilities and outstanding views across the water to Marina Mirage and the Palazzo Versace. There... Find out more

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Stark House B&B

Built by German settlers in 1908, this beautiful home filled with antiques and period furnishings is only five minutes from Boonah. It has three ensuite guest rooms suitable for couples, all with queen beds, there is a... Find out more

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Wiss House B&B

This heritage-listed home built in 1900 has four guest rooms. Order ahead and you can dine beneath the crystal chandelier in the ornate banquet room, with a chef on hand to prepare a three-course meal. The house sits in... Find out more

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Zengarra Country House

This is the place for classical music lovers and romantics, with a grand piano and a concert marimba in the music pavilion, and candlelit five-course dinners served. Owner Christine Leah is a classical music teacher, and... Find out more

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Destiny Boonah 7 km

Set on 80 hectares of Land for Wildlife property, this self-contained three-bedroom cottage is solar- and wind-powered. You are encouraged to bring a mountain bike or go bushwalking on the property, which is located near... Find out more

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The Mouses House, Springbrook 63 km

Set in a beautiful rainforest at more than 800 metres above sea level, this luxury resort has 11 self-contained chalets, hot tub, sauna, tennis court and bikes, a sensible environmental policy and eco-accreditation. It... Find out more

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Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat 67 km

Located near Murwillumbah and surrounded on three sides by World Heritage–listed national parks, this secluded couples-only resort on the Queensland border has minimal-impact, self-contained bungalows and cabins.... Find out more

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Brisbane Marriott Hotel 69 km

By no means the greenest accommodation in this book, the Marriott still deserves inclusion as one of the better options in large hotels. It gained the Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status and is AAA-rated for its water-... Find out more

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Cottages on the Creek 73 km

This 2-hectare establishment is managed as a Land for Wildlife property and the two, onebedroom spa cottages have composting toilets, protecting Currumbin Creek with its turtles, catfish, platypus and yabbies.... Find out more

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Emerald Valley Villa 102 km

Nestled in the hinterland some 25 minutes drive from Byron Bay, this is way up the high end of ecotourism in this country. You can rent your own five-star palace (they call it a villa), complete with pool, courtyard,... Find out more

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Glass House Mountains Eco-Lodge 122 km

The simple, down-market rooms here include the use of old train carriages for a communal kitchen and group area. An old church has also been recycled, and all greywater and blackwater is used on site to irrigate the... Find out more

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Sleepy Hollow Rest Area 95 km

61 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S28 25.457 E153 31.220 ... Find out more

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Yelgun Rest Area 99 km

50 km N of Ballina (R) or 42 km S of Tweed Heads (L) Large area just off the highway. GPS: S28 29.489 E153 31.356   ... Find out more

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Tyagarah Rest Area 108 km

38 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S28 35.902 E153 32.663   ... Find out more

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Coochin Creek Camp Area 129 km

T/O 73 km N of Brisbane (R) or 95 km S of Gympie (L) Coochin Creek campground is located 5 kilometres east of the highway (via Bells Creek Road and Roys Road) in a pleasant forest setting in Beerburrum State Forest.... Find out more

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Coolgardie Rest Area 129 km

89 km N of Tyndale (L) or 14 km S of Ballina (L) Large areas just off the highway on both sides. Limited shade. GPS: S28 56.104 E153 28.307 ... Find out more

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Woodburn Park Area 135 km

Middle of town Parking area on the highway beside the river. Good facilities. GPS: S29 04.297 E153 20.575 ... Find out more

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Tuckombil Road Rest Area 138 km

40 km S of Ballina (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. GPS: S29 06.209 E153 20.400 ... Find out more

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Landsborough Park Area 140 km

83 km N of Brisbane (L) or 85 km S of Gympie (R) Small area located 500 metres off the highway via Landsborough exit. Good shade. GPS: S26 46.409 E153 02.252... Find out more

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New Italy Rest Area 142 km

56 km N of Tyndale (L) or 47 km S of Ballina (R) Large shady area adjacent to the highway near the museum and cafe. GPS: S29 09.205 E153 17.930... Find out more

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Bluff Rock Rest Area 144 km

80 km N of Glen Innes (R) or 12 km S of Tenterfield (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 09.277 E152 00.108... Find out more

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